Originally Posted by
IAN-UK
I'm sure there's a propensity to perceive every positive outcome in QR's world to be somehow related to one's status: it reinforces the feeling that status is something worth effort to acquire.
I stepped down from my Platinum pedestal this year, and I'm agreeable surprised at the Gold experience - different to Platinum in no way i have detected, apart from no Safwa on P fares, and reduced avios earnings. Those are crosses I can bear.
The economy cabin is home on around half my flights, and there the little extras remain unchanged. In premium cabins I believe the ethos still in force is all our passengers in this cabin are special, so no overt special treatment of Diamonds, or indeed of Golds.
Agreed , I have had a free upgrade to F from J once whilst flying BKK to Doh but I suspect that was because I was a solo traveller and was oversold. I wasn't the only one with the upgrade. The status lounges are fab anyway.
The Big Plus of Al Safwa is the sleeping rooms ( if you can get one) marginally better food( I see very little difference to Al Mourjan)